Tuesday, June 30, 2009

GASCON - MALBEC

Vintage: 2008
Price Range: $12
Producer: Don Miguel Gascon
Region & Country: Mendoza, Argentina
Grape Variety: Malbec
Recommended By: N/A

Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 5/30/2009
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 6/30/2009

Appearance: Deep, dark purple; opaque and medium-bodied
Nose: Black berries, white pepper, spices, little cinnamon & mocha, cherry
Taste: Bold taste of black berry & cherry; slightly dry
Finish: Lasting taste of bitter mocha
Overall Impression: The aroma of this Malbec is much more enticing than its taste, yet it still has a great, juicy bold flavor of fruit.

Overall Rating
: 90/100
Overall Value: ***.5 / 5 Stars

Thursday, June 25, 2009

LES JAMELLES - CHARDONNAY

Greetings. I don't know about you, but when someone dies that is usually a big star, I usually want to have a toast to their memories. Today, Farrah Fawcett & Michael Jackson both passed away. I wish when I was toasting them that I had picked out a better wine...

Vintage
: 2006
Price Range: $12
Producer: Les Jamelles Winery
Region & Country: Marseillette, France
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Recommended By: N/A

Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 5/9/2009
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 6/25/2009

Appearance: Light, but bright yellow; clean and medium-bodied
Nose: Bananas, over-ripened melons, tart perfume scent
Taste: Slight banana, almost like the banana flavored Runts candy; average - nothing really stands out
Finish: Warm, lingers; aftertaste is ashy and not so good
Overall Impression: Not impressed at all. :( There was this overpowering banana in everything. It's a little overwhelming, but I guess perfect if you are a huge fan of bananas.

Overall Rating: 76/100
Overall Value: ** / 5 Stars

Friday, June 19, 2009

BLACK SLATE - RIESLING

Vintage: 2007
Price Range: $20
Producer: F.W. Langguth
Region & Country: Mosel, Germany
Grape Variety: Riesling
Recommended By: WineClub

Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 4/5/2009
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 6/19/2009

Appearance: Extremely light, almost clear; light-bodied
Nose: Light scent; soft floral & herbs; slight cream aroma
Taste: Sweet, but not overpowering; candy lemon & peach; creamy on the tongue; clean and crisp apples
Finish: Sweet, smooth aftertaste; lingers sweet
Overall Impression: Great Riesling! It's so smooth and doesn't make your mouth pucker like some other Rieslings do. The crispness and clean taste is what makes this one so good. This would be the perfect summer sweet wine.

Overall Rating: 92/100
Overall Value: **** / 5 Stars

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

MAGGIE'S ATTIC - CHARDONNAY

Vintage: 2008
Price Range: $20
Producer: Vina Santa Alicia
Region & Country: Maipo Valley, Chile
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Recommended By: Wine Club

Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 6/8/2009
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 6/9/2009

Appearance: Medium-bodied; pale yellow; brilliant and clean
Nose: Apples, melon, soft floral and smoked oak
Taste: Sweet, green apples; crisp, creamy and slightly acidic
Finish: Lingers slightly, but still clean; tart to smooth finish
Overall Impression: Maggie's Attic seems to start off tart but then finishes in a smooth, silky way. We had pasta and it was great with a while sauce. After dinner, it still tasted good. This wine can definitely stand alone. I know it's not very good with dessert though.

Overall Rating: 92/100
Overall Value: ***.5 / 5 Stars

Thursday, June 4, 2009

DE BORTOLI - CHARDONNAY

Vintage: 2007
Price Range: $10
Producer: De Bortoli Wines
Region & Country: Bilbul, South Eastern Australia
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Recommended By: N/A

Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 5/9/2009
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 6/4/2009

Appearance: Brilliant, clean straw to gold color; Full-bodied
Nose: Grass, herbs, soft honeydew, creamy scent
Taste: Full flavor, clean sweetness, slight cream
Finish: Lingers, warm on the throat, sweet aftertaste
Overall Impression: The sweetness of this Chardonnay overpowers the creaminess, but that isn't so bad! It was a wonderful white! I know that I've had better, but this one held its own. It definitely has a great full-flavor.

Overall Rating: 92/100
Overall Value: **** / 5 Stars

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

FINCA LA LINDA - BONARDA

Vintage: 2006
Price Range: $20
Producer: Luigi Bosca
Region & Country: Mendoza, Argentina
Grape Variety: Bonarda
Recommended By: WineStyles

Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 3/2/2009
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 6/2/2009

Appearance: Deep, dark purple; full-bodied
Nose: Slightly hot with hints of cherry and roses
Taste: Juicy cherry taste with hints of rose and violets
Finish: Slightly dry and lingers; strange aftertaste
Overall Impression: This Bonarda has a bold fruit and flower taste. The finish is strange though. I think it may be due to the floral taste or maybe the skins of the grapes were tart.

Overall Rating
: 87/100
Overall Value: *** / 5 Stars